How to Install Celluloid on Ubuntu Linux

Celluloid is a user-friendly media player that provides a modern GTK+ interface for the powerful mpv video player. Whether you need to play local video files, stream online content, or work with playlists, Celluloid handles virtually all media formats while maintaining a lightweight footprint. By the end of this guide, you will have Celluloid installed and ready to use, with verification steps to confirm everything works correctly.

This guide covers multiple installation methods for Celluloid on Ubuntu, including the default APT repository, a dedicated PPA for newer versions, Snapcraft, and Flatpak via Flathub. Each approach suits different preferences—from users who prioritize system integration to those who prefer sandboxed applications with the latest features.

Choose Your Celluloid Installation Method

Ubuntu offers several ways to install Celluloid, each with distinct trade-offs between version freshness, update handling, and system integration. The following table summarizes your options:

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Default)	Ubuntu Repos	Stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Users who prefer distro-tested packages
APT (PPA)	Launchpad PPA	Latest stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Users who want newer features with APT convenience
Snap	Snapcraft	Latest stable	Automatic background updates	Users who prefer Canonical’s ecosystem
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Manual via flatpak update	Users who want sandboxing and cross-distro compatibility

For most users, the default APT method is recommended because it requires no additional configuration and receives security updates through Ubuntu’s standard channels. If you need newer features, the PPA or Flatpak methods provide more recent releases.

This guide supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS installations. The xuzhen666 PPA typically supports the two most recent LTS releases, while Flatpak and Snap remain compatible across all versions. Commands shown work identically on both supported LTS releases.

Method 1: Install Celluloid via APT (Default Repository)

The simplest approach uses Ubuntu’s default universe repository, which provides a stable version of Celluloid tested for compatibility with your system libraries. To begin, update your package cache to ensure you get the latest available version:

sudo apt update

Next, install Celluloid with the following command:

sudo apt install celluloid

Once installation completes, verify that Celluloid works by checking its version:

celluloid --version

Celluloid 0.26

This version number confirms successful installation. Ubuntu 24.04 provides version 0.26, while Ubuntu 22.04 includes version 0.20.

Method 2: Install Celluloid via PPA (Latest Version)

If you want a more recent version of Celluloid than what Ubuntu’s default repository provides, the xuzhen666 PPA offers the latest stable release. This method gives you access to new features while still using APT for convenient updates.

First, add the PPA to your system. The -y flag automatically confirms the addition:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xuzhen666/gnome-mpv -y

Once the PPA is added, update your package cache to include the new repository:

sudo apt update

Now install Celluloid from the PPA:

sudo apt install celluloid

Once installation finishes, verify that APT pulled the package from the PPA by checking the package policy:

apt-cache policy celluloid

celluloid:
  Installed: 0.27-1~24.04~ppa1
  Candidate: 0.27-1~24.04~ppa1
  Version table:
 *** 0.27-1~24.04~ppa1 500
        500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/xuzhen666/gnome-mpv/ubuntu noble/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     0.26-1build2 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages

This output confirms the PPA version (indicated by ppa1 in the version string) takes priority over the default repository version.

Method 3: Install Celluloid via Snap

Snapcraft provides Celluloid as a self-contained package that bundles all dependencies. This method delivers automatic background updates and works consistently across Ubuntu versions.

Verify Snap Availability

Ubuntu includes Snap by default, though minimal installations may lack it. To ensure Snap availability, run the following command:

sudo apt install snapd -y

When Snap is already present, APT reports that snapd is already at the newest version. In that case, proceed directly to installation.

Install Celluloid from Snap Store

With Snap available, install Celluloid using the following command:

sudo snap install celluloid

Next, verify the installation by listing installed Snap packages:

snap list celluloid

Name       Version  Rev   Tracking       Publisher           Notes
celluloid  0.29     145   latest/stable  sameersharma2006    -

Method 4: Install Celluloid via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides Celluloid in a sandboxed environment, isolating it from your system libraries for enhanced security. This method works particularly well when you want the latest version with consistent behavior across different Linux distributions.

Ubuntu does not include Flatpak by default. Therefore, if Flatpak is not present on your system, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For detailed setup instructions including Flathub configuration, see our guide on installing Flatpak on Ubuntu.

Add Flathub Repository

First, ensure the Flathub repository is configured on your system. The --if-not-exists flag prevents errors if Flathub is already added:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install Celluloid from Flathub

With Flathub configured, install Celluloid using the Flatpak command. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation:

flatpak install flathub io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloid -y

Subsequently, verify the installation by checking Flatpak’s list of installed applications:

flatpak list --app | grep -i celluloid

Celluloid    io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloid    0.29    stable    system

Launch Celluloid

After installation, you can launch Celluloid from either the terminal or your desktop environment’s application menu. Your launch method depends on how you installed the application.

Launch from Terminal

Use the command that matches your installation method:

APT installation (default or PPA):

celluloid

Snap installation:

snap run celluloid

Flatpak installation:

flatpak run io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloid

Launch from Applications Menu

Alternatively, most desktop users prefer launching applications graphically. Navigate to the applications menu using this path:

Activities > Show Applications > Celluloid

Update Celluloid

Keeping Celluloid updated ensures you have the latest features and security fixes. Your update method varies depending on your installation approach.

Update via APT

For APT installations (both default repository and PPA), updates are handled through your regular system updates:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Update via Snap

Snap applications update automatically in the background. To manually trigger an update, use:

sudo snap refresh celluloid

Update via Flatpak

Unlike Snap, Flatpak applications require manual updates. Run the following command to update all Flatpak applications, including Celluloid:

flatpak update

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Video Playback Shows Black Screen

When Celluloid opens but displays a black screen during video playback, this typically indicates a graphics driver or hardware acceleration issue. To diagnose this problem, check your current video output mode:

celluloid --mpv-vo=help 2>&1 | head -10

To disable hardware acceleration temporarily and test software rendering, launch Celluloid with:

celluloid --mpv-hwdec=no

When this resolves the issue, you likely need to update your graphics drivers or adjust hardware decoding settings in Celluloid’s preferences. For NVIDIA users, see our guide on installing NVIDIA drivers on Ubuntu.

Flatpak Version Cannot Access External Drives

By default, Flatpak’s sandboxing may prevent access to removable media. To grant filesystem access, use the following command:

flatpak override --user --filesystem=/media io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloid

Similarly, for Snap installations experiencing the same issue, connect the removable-media interface:

sudo snap connect celluloid:removable-media :removable-media

PPA Version Not Installing

When the PPA version does not appear after adding the repository, verify the PPA was added correctly:

grep -r "xuzhen666" /etc/apt/sources.list.d/

When the PPA exists on your system, you should see output containing the repository URL:

/etc/apt/sources.list.d/xuzhen666-ubuntu-gnome-mpv-noble.sources:URIs: https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/xuzhen666/gnome-mpv/ubuntu

When the grep command returns results like the one above, the PPA was added correctly. However, if no output appears, the PPA failed to add. In that case, try adding it again and ensure you have software-properties-common installed:

sudo apt install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xuzhen666/gnome-mpv -y
sudo apt update

Remove Celluloid

When you no longer need Celluloid, use the removal command that matches your installation method. After removal, verify the application no longer exists on your system.

Remove APT Installation

To remove Celluloid installed via APT (either default repository or PPA):

sudo apt remove celluloid
sudo apt autoremove

The autoremove command cleans up any orphaned dependencies that APT installed alongside Celluloid.

Additionally, if you installed from the PPA and want to remove it as well:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xuzhen666/gnome-mpv -y

Remove Snap Installation

sudo snap remove celluloid

Remove Flatpak Installation

flatpak remove io.github.celluloid_player.Celluloid -y

Verify Removal

Finally, confirm that Celluloid no longer exists on your system. For APT installations, use:

which celluloid

When this command returns no output, Celluloid has been successfully removed. For Snap and Flatpak installations, the corresponding list commands from the installation sections will confirm the application no longer exists.

Conclusion

You now have Celluloid installed on Ubuntu with your preferred installation method. The application provides a clean GTK+ interface for mpv, supporting virtually all media formats including MKV, MP4, WebM, and streaming protocols. For additional configuration options such as custom keybindings or mpv configuration files, explore the Preferences menu or consult the official Celluloid FAQ. If you prefer alternative media players, consider VLC Media Player for its extensive codec support or mpv for a minimalist command-line experience.